Pharmacy Daily | Always have a COVAX vial on the go

PHARMACISTS providing COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) services are being urged to ensure they have a vial ready at all times to ensure as many doses go into arms as possible.

Addressing concerns about potential wastage of doses of the vaccine during a webinar last week, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, stressed that the Federal Government was more concerned about opportunities to vaccinate being taken than wastage.

Twomey noted that the AstraZeneca vaccine - which is currently the only COVAX available through community pharmacy in Australia - comes in a 10-dose multi-dose vial, which can be stored between 2 and 8C in a vaccine fridge.

"You should always have a vial on the go," he said.

"The Government is not concerned if there is some wastage.

"What we're concerned about is the spread of the Delta strain could've been prevented, lockdowns could've been prevented, if we had more needles in arms.

"So if you are worried that some of your multi-dose vial will go to waste, if you're worried that you won't use five doses a day, please don't be.

"Any vaccine that you give into any Australian's arm - who is over the age of 18 - is not only completely in line with the guidelines, it's actually what we're asking all of you to do.

"Please don't be worried about wastage."

During the hour-long webinar, Twomey said pharmacies could adopt clinic or walk-in models, or a hybrid of both to deliver the vaccine.

"Whatever suits you, your pharmacists and your pharmacy assistants," he said.

He added that "any door is the right door" for Australians seeking access to COVAX services.

"Whether they walk-in, phone-in, email, whether they come from Facebook and social media, there's no such thing as a wrong door for Australians to be obtaining this service from their community pharmacy, as long as they obtain it from their community pharmacy.

"I just want you to vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate."